Practice Thread

Position entry was really critical at Sir Walter this weekend on stage 2(?) with the double drop turners. I didn’t shoot them clean so position entry practice remains important this week, and all season.

This AM I woke up with a nasty migraine which cut into dry fire time but I strapped on my belt and gave myself 5 minutes to work on position entry before work. No timer because I was only working on footwork.

Step into the shooting area and engage T1-3 while moving. The earlier I had the pistol up, the less the sights bounced as I moved in on the array. Since the pistol was already were it needed to be I didn’t have to split my attention between aiming and moving and I could focus clearly on a smooth stride. Mindblowing, right?

It’s amazing how successful 5 minutes of dry fire on one specific task can be.
 
If my math is correct, I'll be less than 1% of A class come Wednesday. Draws reloads and transitions practice is working.
We put a man on the moon in the 60’s and cant have instant classifier updates.
 
This dude is building a fart powered rocket out in the desert to proove it!
 
If my math is correct, I'll be less than 1% of A class come Wednesday. Draws reloads and transitions practice is working.
Well, have to wait another week. My M class run didn't go through yet, wasn't paid in time.
 
Live fire yesterday. Confirmed optic is broken not me, feel slightly better about not hitting anything at CGGR.

Back to the production gun, slightly interesting after months of optic only.

Group shooting is improved, I believe this is the result of the dot's instant feedback, movement unseen with irons is massive with an optic. Ten yards and in (target focused) times are similar and hits are nearly as good, which is an improvement. At 20+ getting back to a front sight focus is proving slow. 10-20yds the jury's still out.

Dry fire times are pathetic, the dot taught me I wasn't being honest calling shots with irons. I had gotten pretty fast with the dot, now knowin what I was doing before I'm much slower with the irons, but I think honest so it should benefit more as I work the time down.
 
Worked on draw and transitions. Varying distance both to the targets and the transition itself. Working on getting the sights settled after snapping to T2. Tried a few reloads but the cut on my left thumb has prevented this for the past week and still needs a few more days me thinks. Finished with some draws SHO and will work on WHO when said thumb heals up.
 
More breakthroughs!

I was getting frustrated with missed reloads recently. Last night in dry fire I was getting fatigued on Burkett reloads and I noticed I started to cock my hip when reaching for a new magazine. I guess this is because my shoulders are too lazy to lift my arm up so my hip is compensating? Well after a few reps of that I remember listening to a July or August 2014 episode of That Shooting Show the other day and some guy mentioned that he had a breakthrough when he pulled his elbow into his body. I was only partially paying attention to that episode so I figured maybe the elbow piece is related to mag changes?

I decided to experiment with elbow movement during Burketts, focusing on pulling my elbow towards my trunk when reaching for the magazine. Imagine someone standing behind me and I’m trying to elbow them in the gut. Pure MAGIC.

This AM I confirmed with consistent 4 second El Prez dry fire, and very consistent magazine changes. Confidence restored.
 
More breakthroughs!

I was getting frustrated with missed reloads recently. Last night in dry fire I was getting fatigued on Burkett reloads and I noticed I started to cock my hip when reaching for a new magazine. I guess this is because my shoulders are too lazy to lift my arm up so my hip is compensating? Well after a few reps of that I remember listening to a July or August 2014 episode of That Shooting Show the other day and some guy mentioned that he had a breakthrough when he pulled his elbow into his body. I was only partially paying attention to that episode so I figured maybe the elbow piece is related to mag changes?

I decided to experiment with elbow movement during Burketts, focusing on pulling my elbow towards my trunk when reaching for the magazine. Imagine someone standing behind me and I’m trying to elbow them in the gut. Pure MAGIC.

This AM I confirmed with consistent 4 second El Prez dry fire, and very consistent magazine changes. Confidence restored.

How does it mirror your opposite elbow on your draw stroke? Similar?
 
I didn’t know the answer until I watched my videos. Tucked elbow for both draw and magazine change.

Somewhere I remember getting advice that its like a puppet with a string attached to elbow, where puppeteer pulls it straight up, and elbow goes straight back.

Always think of that when drawing, but never for mag change.

Gonna try that, thanks Trav!
 
I hope it
Somewhere I remember getting advice that its like a puppet with a string attached to elbow, where puppeteer pulls it straight up, and elbow goes straight back.

Always think of that when drawing, but never for mag change.

Gonna try that, thanks Trav!
Excellent analogy!

I hope it helps! More than anything it’s giving my conscious mind something to do in practice while I learn this new technique. And I think it’s going to pay off.
 
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Do you do any work to the tanfos before using them?
This one is bone stock so far with a grand total of 30rds through it now.

BSPS Tanfo Kit should be delivered today. New recoil spring, hammer spring, Dawson front sight, Henning FP and Henning guide rod. $100 in extra parts and it’ll be ready to rock.
 
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This one is bone stock so far with a grand total of 30rds through it now.

BSPS Tanfo Kit should be delivered today. New recoil spring, hammer spring, Dawson front sight, Henning FP and Henning guide rod. $100 in extra parts and it’ll be ready to rock.

Did you get another so you would have a back up? Or are you selling your other one?

I'm liking my Tanfo a lot! In some ways I like it more than my CZ. I can get a higher grip on it. About to throw some money at new mag bases.
 
Did you get another so you would have a back up? Or are you selling your other one?

I'm liking my Tanfo a lot! In some ways I like it more than my CZ. I can get a higher grip on it. About to throw some money at new mag bases.
Keeping both. The original one will transition to a practice/back up gun and the new one will be for matches only.

They’re great guns! I’m glad you’re liking yours, I can’t wait to see it in action.
 
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Strapped on the ol belt again today for the first time in a week. I vow to NEVER let quad loading beat me again. The last 5 minutes of dry fire will consist of shotgun work
 
Took one of my guys out for a session, got him to sign up for the local indoor USPSA match too......sucker.......
He shot really well last night. #hooked

For practice today: I practiced patience trying to explain to my wife the levels of classification and my goal of M this year. I dont think it sunk in
 
trying to explain

If it helps, I find teeth brushing or bathing to be a helpful metaphor. Better to do a little bit every day than try to "catch up" on the weekends. It helps non-shooters understand that practice is more about learning the feeling through repetition and not just wasting time doing the same drills day after day.
 
Beautiful day to be shooting!
Made it to the club (dprc) to practice with my new limited blaster.

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Mm, practice, how to work on everything?
Dry fire, draws @ 10yds and 25 simulated prepping the trigger because other wise when live fire gets around I draw, aim, then get on the trigger with the latter two pretty distinctly separate events. Reloads to acceptable sight pictures because they're still sometimes rough and most times slow in live fire. Mostly working entries, cause I suck at coming in and getting stable.
Live fire, Blake drills still gotta work those transitions, and after this weekend Distance change up. Mini stages with opportunities to shoot into and out of positions, and pushing my limits shooting on the move. Usually some marksmanship stuff too, Dot Drill, 20yd+ Bills, or plate rack times get way too long past about 17yds.
 
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